Baggage latch



Jan. 20, 1953 R HERRlCK 2,626,172

BAGGAGE LATCH Filed March 28, 1950 INVENTOR. R. E. HERRICK ATTORNEYPatented Jan. 20,1953

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BAGGAGE LATCH Robert E. Herrick, Chicago,Ill.

Application March 28, 1950., Serial No. 152,346

' 4 Claims. 1

This invention relates to fasteningv devices and more particularly tothat classof fastening device which is especially designed for use inconnection with trunks, boxes, suit cases and the like.

Fastening devices of the character with which we are presently concernedgenerally include a hasp in the form of a loop which is carried by apivotal member and is intended to engage with a hook-like member orprojection when the device is in looking position. Resilient or springmeans is normally employed for retaining the pivotal member in eitheropen or closed position and the hasp or loop is mounted on the pivotalmember so as to swing freely thereupon. It will be readily apparent thatwhen the device is in locked position the hasp or loop is securelyretained upon the locking projection but when the fastening device is inunlocked position the loop is free to swing or extend outwardly and isthus susceptible to damage or may cause injury to persons or objectswhich may inadvertently strike thereagainst.

It is accordingly a major object of the present invention to provide afastening device of the class described which includes novel means forhousing the hasp or loop when the device is in unlocked position.

It is a further object of the invention to provide in a fastening deviceof the class set forth, means for preventing free swinging or movementof the hasp or loop when the device is in unlocked position.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a latch of theclass described including novel means for protecting the hasp or loopagainst damage when the device is in unlocked position.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improvedfastening device of the class set forth which will function with maximumefficiency, will be particularly strong and durable, and may beeconomically manufactured.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent fromthe following description taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of one embodiment of the invention, illustratingthe fastening device applied to a particular form of collapsible desk;

Fig. 2, an elevation of the fastening device of the instant application,disclosing the elements thereof assembled in unlocked position;

Fig. 3, a vertical sectional view, taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; and

Fig. 4, an elevation of the fastening device, similar to Fig. 2, butdisclosing the elements thereof assembled in lockedposition.

As shown in the drawing, the novel fastening device comprises baseplates Ill and l l which are respectively designed to be secured inabutting relation to the bottom portion and to the lid of a trunk, box,suit case, or the like. The base plate I0 is provided with a pluralityof spaced apertures I2 intended for the reception of any desired type offastening means such as screws, rivets, or the like. In like manner, thebase plate II is provided with a plurality of spaced apertures I3, alsointended for the reception of any desired form of fastener. Preferably,as is Well known in this and related arts, the apertures i2 as well asthe apertures 13 may be countersunk to conveniently receive the heads ofthe rivets, screws, or other fasteners employed.

The base plate lil is provided, adjacent the bottom edge thereof, with akeeper or bolt-receiving shell !4 which may be rigidly secured theretoin any desired manner. Preferably the keeper [4 is provided with aplurality of integral lugs I5 which engage within suitable apertures(not shown) in the base plate, whereby a rigid structure may be had.

The keeper I4 is further provided, on the end portion thereof remotefrom the edge of the base plate H], with a pair of longitudinallyextending lugs or ears i6 suitably apertured for the reception of arivet or pin 1'! upon which is pivotally mounted, between the ears [6,an extremity of a spring-controlled lever [8. A spring I9 is rigidlysecured to the under surface of the base plate l0 and projects throughan aperture 20 formed therein so as to engage with an extremity of thelever 18 whereby this lever may be resiliently maintained in extremepositions, as is well known in this art. The free extremity of the leveri8 is provided with a finger engaging portion 2| whereby manipulation ofthe lever may be facilitated.

Pivotally connected to the longitudinally extending side walls of thekeeper H? are the inturned extremities 22 of a hasp or loop 23 intendedto engage with the undercut face 24 of a catch 25 mounted upon or formedintegrally with the base plate H. Preferably the catch 25 includes atongue or bolt 26 which is designed to enter the keeper 1 4 when thebase plates in and H are properly'aligned for locking engagementtherebetween.

The operation of the structure thus'des cribed is well known and it isconsidered that no particular discussion thereof is required here. Whenthe fastening device is in the locked position illustrated in Fig. 4 ofthe drawing, the hasp or loop 23 is securely retained upon the catch 25by reason of engagement with the undercut face 24 thereof. However, whenthe hasp is disengaged from this catch, it is free to swing about itspivotally mounted extremities and is thus susceptible to damage,particularly when the article upon which the fastening device isemployed is moved from place to place. Such damage may result in bendingthe hasp so that it cannot function properly or, where the hasp is freeto swing or project outwardly from the fastening device, injury topersons or property may result from inadvertent contact therewith.

To this end the base plate I is provided with a novel protective housingintended to receive a portion of the hasp when the fastening device isin unlocked position and prevent free swinging or other movementthereof. Preferably the base plate ID is provided with a slot oraperture 21 providing access into an arcuate raised or upstruck portion28 pressed outwardly from the surface of the base plate and intended toreceive therein the free extremity of the loop 23. Obviously, thehousing or raised portion 28 may be formed separately from the baseplate and may be suitably mounted thereupon, however, it has been foundin practice that such a portion may be conveniently stamped out from thesheet material of which the base plate is formed during the initialstamping or other operation required for the manufacture thereof.

Movement of the hasp or loop 23 from the locked position illustrated inFig. 4 of the drawing' to the unlocked but retained position shown inFig. 2 is particularly simple. The springcontrolled lever 18 is raisedto permit disengagement of the loop 23 from the undercut shoulder 26' ofthe catch 25. The hasp or loop is then pivoted to the positionillustrated in dotted lines in Fig. 3 of the drawing where the freeextremity of the loop may enter the slot 21. The lever I8 is thenpermitted to return to its spring-urged normal position and the loop 23is carried therewith to the retained position disclosed in Figs. 2

' and 3 of the drawing. It will be noted that in this housed or retainedposition the hasp or loop lies substantially parallel to and upon theface of the base plate ID, in a plane between that of the housing 28 andthe lever l8, and is thus prevented from swinging freely, when thefastening device is in unlocked position and the article upon which thedevice is employed is being moved about, and is effectively protectedfrom receiving or inflicting injury.

There has been illustrated, in Fig. 1 of the drawing, the application ofthe fastening device described herein upon a collapsible desk, indicatedgenerally at D, which forms the subject matter of a copendingapplication. As shown, the base plates and H are mounted upon a sidewall of the top T and bottom B of the desk D which is opened to providea suitable working surface S supported upon brackets or the like. Itwill be obvious, however, that use of the instant fastening device is inno manner limited to such a structure and that the disclosure of Fig. lof the drawing is merely illustrative and can in no manner he consideredlimitive.

There has thus been described a novel fastening device of the characteremploying a hasp or loop which is freely movable upon a springcontrolledpivotal lever and which includes means for housing or retaining the loopagainst inadvertent movement when the device is in unlocked position.The device may be economically manufactured, readily applied to thearticle in connection with which it is intended to be used, and isstrong and durable as well as particularly eficient in operation.

It will be obvious to thos skilled in this art that various changes maybe made in the invention without departing from the spirit or scopethereof and, therefore, the invention is not limited by that which isshown in the drawing and described in the specification but only asindicated in the accompanying claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A fastening device of the class set forth including aligned baseplates designed to be secured to the parts to be fastened together, acatch carried by one of said plates, a lever pivotally attached to theother plate, and a hasp pivotally mounted at one extremity thereof uponsaid lever, the free end of said hasp being adapted to engage said catchto lock said plates together, said other plate having a slot providingaccess to an arcuate upstruck portion adapted to receive said free endof said hasp to retain said hasp against pivotal movement when thedevice is in unlocked position.

2. A fastening device of the class set forth including aligned baseplates designed to be secured to the parts to be fastened together, acatch carried by one of said plates, a lever pivotally attached to theother plate, and a hasp pivotally mounted upon said lever and adapted toengage said catch to lock said plates together, said other plate havinga slot providing access to an upstruck portion for receiving andretaining said hasp against pivotal movement when the device is inunlocked position.

3. A fastening device of the class set forth including aligned baseplates designed to be secured to the parts to be fastened together, acatch carried by one of said plates, a lever pivotally attached to theother plate, and a hasp pivotally mounted upon said lever and adapted toengage said catch to lock said plates together, said other plate beingprovided with a slot for receiving and retaining said hasp againstpivotal inovement when the device is in unlocked posiion.

4. A fastening device of the class set forth including aligned baseplates designed to be secured to the parts to be fastened together, acatch carried by one of said plates, a lever pivotally attached to theother of said plates, a hasp pivotally mounted upon said lever andadapted to engage said catch to lock said plates together, and a housingon said other plate for receiving and retaining said hasp againstpivotal movement when the device is in unlocked position.

ROBERT E. HERRICK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Soule July 5, 1881 Duggan May 4, 1920OTHER REFERENCES Wilson: Abstract of application Serial No. 602,136,published in 628 O. G. 1200, November Copy available in 292-247.

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